CHESTER, Pa. – The Albright softball team continued its conference play at Widener on Thursday afternoon, but the Pride swept the doubleheader with final scores of 5-0 and 6-4.
Albright (9-11, 4-6 MACC) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap.
Jessica Rodriguez and Corrine Garuffe ignited the Lions' run with each player reaching base via an error. After a well-placed sacrifice bunt to advance the runners from
Kelly Cembrale, Rodriguez raced home to score Albright's first run on a wild pitch.
Jordan Chell grounded into a fielder's choice that would score Garuffe, who advanced to third on the wild pitch.
The Pride (19-7, 8-2 MACC) would chip away at the Lions' lead in the third. After Gerenda issued a walk to start the leadoff batter, back-to-back sacrifice bunts advanced the Widener runner to third. Jamie Gosselin doubled to center field to bring home the Pride's first run of the game.
The Lions struck again in the top of the fourth. With two outs on the board, Cembrale sparked the Lions' offense with an infield single and her third stolen base of the season. The sophomore crossed home on a single from Chell to extend the Lions' lead to 3-1.
Widener continued to keep pace with Albright. A solo shot from Carli Benozich in the fifth cut the Lions' lead down to 3-2. However, Albright extended its lead to two runs in the top half of the sixth inning after Cembrale drove in
Brianne Long on a RBI single.
The Pride would win the game in the final frame. After a walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases, Jamie Gosselin sent the ball over the wall for a walk-off grand slam.
In game one, a pitching duel emerged as
Riley Gerenda and Katie Rabuck of the Pride battled on the mound. Rabuck would go on to earn the win as she tossed seven hitless innings.
Regina Milburn was the only Lion to reach base after being hit by one of Rabuck's pitches in the first inning. After four scoreless innings, the Pride jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Widener added a run in the bottom of the sixth to score its fifth and final run.
The Lions return to action on Friday when they host Cedar Crest in a make-up doubleheader from March 28. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
